LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL RIDE

I've always been active. Growing up in a house with 2 very fitness-oriented parents, being active was pretty much a given. Yet, after moving to California about 9 years ago, I struggled to find an activity I could really enjoy on regular basis. I've tried a few different things like running and hiking for example, and for a while I was really captivated by both. But I get bored easily and once the novelty an excitement ware off, I feel trapped in a fitness routine. Well, that was the case until I discovered biking! Biking is never boring to me! I feel equally excited every time I bike and unlike with most other activities, given a chance, I could go for hours and hours. Seriously, if you guys haven't tried it, I really recommend it! 

The one thing I discovered was if you spend hours and hours outside, you really have to be diligent about using sunscreen. I have to confess, I haven't always been as good as I should be about wearing sun protection, and after riding for about six months, started noticing some sun damage on my nose and cheeks. So now, I use sunblock religiously and never leave home without it. 

Currently, I am using Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration face lotion SPF 30 on my face. I love this particular one because aside from the fact that it smells amazing ( think exotic botanicals and light tropical fragrance), it's water resistant (up to 80 minutes) and keeps the skin moisturized without feeling heavy or clogging pores. I am also using Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Ultra Touch Radiance Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30 on my body. Another current favorite, I love this product because it protects my skin, while keeping it really soft. The fact that it also happens to be water resistant (up to 80 minutes) is a bonus ( definitely comes in handy on my frequent trips to Palm Springs for some serious pool time). 

It's important to make sure that you are reapplying your sunscreen every two hours to ensure that you are properly protected. Of course, I also find myself consistently reapplying simply because I am just  little addicted to the fragrance and how luminous my skin looks after application :)

RED Valentino Lips jersey tee | Denim shorts - old { similar here } | Gucci Soho leather disco bag | Scarmo leather slip on sneakers via Gregory's | J Crew Panama hat | Samantha Wills Ruby Tuesday cuff in silver & Moonlight mile cuff in silver

Thank you for reading

& Keep On Smiling,

LOVE,

Annabelle 

STEP BY STEP :: MY CURRENT HAIR-CARE ROUTINE

Good morning, Everyone! Hope you are all enjoying your week! So, it's been exactly 2 weeks since my hair make-over and since I started using Paul Mitchell Ultimate Color Repair System. Because I promised I will keep you posted on my progress, I would like to take this opportunity to talk to you a little bit about my current haircare routine and my new found love and respect of my hair:)  

As I have mentioned before, I put my hair through quite a bit of abuse this summer. In fact, I put it through so much abuse, by the end of August my hair was looking dry, brittle and brassy. Two weeks ago, I realized I can no longer go in public with my mane looking the way it did, so I turned to the professionals at Paul Mitchell. Aside from getting an amazing choppy bob, and a fresh color treatment. Lucie Doughty, Paul Mitchell's Editorial Director and the person responsible for the amazing color I am currently sporting, recommended a shade that is very similar to my natural color, but with much more dimension. 

Since I am absolutely crazy about my new color and want to keep it looking fresh for as long as possible, I've been using Paul Mitchell Ultimate Color Repair System. So, without further ado, here is my step by step haircare routine at the moment. 

1. I wash my hair with Ultimate Color Repair Shampoo, concentrating on the roots. Completely sulfate-free, this shampoo contains reparative quinoa and nature-inspired ingredients to preserve hair color and combat damage. Super gentle and moisturizing, I just can't get over how much smoother and healthier my hair feels after each!

2. Next, I apply Ultimate Color Repair Conditioner, which is designed to lock in hair color and reverse the signs of damage. Normally, I like to leave it on for about 15 minutes but once a week or whenever I have a little more time, I like to use it as a deep conditioner and I leave it on for a little longer ( around 30 minutes ). 

3. Finally, once my hair is towel dried and ready for styling, I spray Ultimate Color Repair Triple Rescue spray, to protect my hair from heat styling, one of the primary causes of color fade. A little tip, I noticed this particular product separates very quickly. So to get full benefits, make sure you shake it well, before usage. 

Since I started using this system, I noticed that not only did it help preserve the color, but it also improved the health of my hair overall. My hair is much more shiny, manageable and easier to style. I am definitely planning to continue using this system and keep you guys posted on my progress! 

As always, if you guys have any questions, about products or styling, please feel free to email me anytime! 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Paul Mitchell. The opinions and texts are all mine. 

Thank you for reading

& Keep On Smiling,

LOVE,

Annabelle  

TO THE MAX :: VIVALUXURY FOR DVF

Good morning, Everyone! I hope you are all had a wonderful weekend! If you read my blog on regular basis, you may remember last month I got a chance to partner with DVF to style one of my favorite items of clothing of all time - the wrap dress ( see post here ). Well, I am absolutely ecstatic to collaborate with DVF yet again to style a maxi version of the wrap dress! 

As I have mentioned before, one of the reasons why I love DVF wrap dresses so much aside of course from how flattering they are, is the fact that they move with your body. Whenever I wear a wrap dress, I feel like every step I take sets the skirt into motion, creating an illusion that it's floating around you in the most magical and graceful of ways. 

When it came to choosing which maxi wrap dress to style, it was definitely not an easy decision to make. I kept going back and forth between different color and print options, until I came across the dress I am wearing in today's post. I am sure you're not surprised given my weakness for certain shade of blue, but I think what attracted me the most to this specific dress was actually the print. Magical and dreamlike, something about this print reminded me of a beautiful, starry sky... Naturally,   it was love at first sight and I simply couldn't resist adding it to my wrap dress collection. Can you blame me?:) 

DVF Sonia silk jersey maxi gown | Gucci Victoire buckle sandals - sold out { similar options here & here } | Movado Bold crystal accent watch | IVI Vision Dusky sunglasses in Aqua Fede { similar option here } | Coordinates Legend bracelet

Thank you for reading
& Keep On Smiling,
LOVE,
Annabelle 

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK...

Good morning and happy Friday, Everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful week! I guess you could say I came across a bit of a bump on the road to finding a perfect black tote. This bump being of course an even more perfect oversized Alexander McQueen bright orange duffel:) After a moment of hesitation, I decided that there is absolutely no reason why an orange tote couldn't work with all those outfits I was planning to wear with a black one. 

Well..., none that I could see at that particular moment, because to be quite frank, when I find a bag I like, especially in a really pretty color, reason and logic tend to go out the door:) But, I am happy to report I was right this time! After I took it home and tried it with a few outfits, I realized that bright orange adds a nice dose of color to my predominantly black outfits. What do you guys think? How do you feel about bright orange totes for Fall? 

Sandro Vitalic stucco print blazer | The Kooples SPORT leather & ponte knit track pants | TOPSHOP pumps - sold out { similar option here } | Alexander McQueen Padlock calfskin duffel bag { in red here, also love this smaller cobalt option } 

Thank you for reading

& Keep On Smiling,

LOVE,

Annabelle 

HIGHLAND

Good morning, Everyone! Hope your week is going great so far! If you read my blog on regular basis, I'm sure you know what a huge shoe addict I am. Though I pretty much love all styles of shoes, when it comes to Fall/Winter footwear, boots are definitely a particular obsession of mine. So, I figure I'll take this opportunity to talk about one of my favorite pairs of all time:) 

The Stuart Weitzman boots I'm wearing in this post have been with me since last year. I got them right before fashion week and we've been virtually inseparable since. Aside from being one of the most comfortable pairs I own, reason why I love them so much is because they work with just about any outfit imaginable. Whether I am putting together a dressy look or a more casual outfit, like I'm sporting in today's post, to me, they are a perfect finishing touch. I think the reason why they look good with a variety of styles is mainly because of their heel. As I was searching for a perfect pair of over the knee boots last year, I kept coming across a lot of styles featuring a super high stiletto-type heel. Though normally I am a big fan of stiletto heels, I felt like a shorter, thicker heel would give this type of boots a more casual appeal and make them more versatile. After a month or so of fruitless searching, I finally came across these and it was pretty much love at first sight! Fast forward a year later and the magic is still there, so I feel I should warn you in advance, there is a pretty good chance you'll be seeing quite a bit of them on this blog! Hope you don't mind:) 

Helmut Lang chunky knit sweatshirt | Celine medium Trapeze bag in black | Stuart Weitzman Highland over the knee boots { in grey here } | Wunderkind sunglasses { similar option here } | EXPRESS high waisted black jean legging | Mr Kate Treasure ear cuff 

Thank you for reading

& Keep On Smiling,

LOVE,

Annabelle 

MOTO COLORBLOCK

Good morning, Everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! 

Today's look is yet another one of those outfits comprised entirely of my current favorites! Though my love affair with black is still in full swing, as of lately, I started to make exceptions for special pieces and make my way back to wearing a bit of color again. Of course by special pieces I mean incredibly cool color block biker jackets featuring my favorite shade of red:) As you may know, jackets are my weakness so if I happen to come across a slightly slouchy, textured perfection of a moto jacket, which I found at Express recently, it's pretty much game over for me, or as I like to call it love at first sight, I am never taking it off kinda deal! Aside of course from the color combination, what I love about this jacket is that it's such a statement piece. I think the main reason for this being that as we move into Fall, outwear becomes one of the main focal points in my outfits so I definitely look for pieces that create a strong visual impact. Take today's look for example, sure this look could have worked with a simple black leather or tweed jacket, but I felt that the color block moto added an extra dose of drama and helped to create a more dramatic impact overall. 

What about you guys, what do you mainly look for in your Fall outwear? 

EXPRESS Color block moto jacket & high waisted black jean legging { customized with distressed finish } | Isabel Marant Royston leather ankle boots | Chanel Boy flap bag | Samantha Wills Ruby Tuesday cuff in silver & Moonlight mile cuff in silver | Amber Sceats safety pin cuff 

Thank you for reading
& Keep On Smiling,
LOVE,
Annabelle 

DENIM UNIFORM

Good morning, Everyone! Hope you are all enjoying your weekend! I just wanted to say a quick hello and share some of my new denim favorites, which as of lately became my unofficial off-duty uniform. 

I don't know about you guys, but I can't imagine anything more comfortable and comforting than a pair of skinny jeans and an oversized denim shirt:) The particular pairing I'm wearing in today's post is one of my absolute favorites at the moment. I love, love, love this blue, which happens to pair so well with my beloved black, I also have a weakness for printed denim, and this muted white floral print feels both understated and refreshing! 

What about you guys, what is your off-duty uniform at the moment? 

MOTHER denim shirt & The Looker jeans in tied and true { also here } | The Kooples leather lapel stretch wool jacket { also here } | Chanel Boy flap bag | Scarmo leather slip on sneakers via Gregory's | Silver aviator sunglasses - old { similar here } | Wanderlust & Co numeral silver ring & double bar & chain silver rings 

Thank you for reading

& Keep On Smiling,

LOVE,

Annabelle